“What’s going on?
Why did all these Alchemy Masters stand up?”
“Look at their expressions.
They’re acting like they’re facing a formidable enemy.
What happened on the Battle Platform?”
The anomaly on the platform instantly drew the attention of countless Cultivators.
They watched as thousands of the new generation’s Pill Masters rose in unison, their eyes brimming with shock and high alert.
This scene stirred the sea of onlookers into a bewildered commotion.
A few Cultivators, however, guessed the cause.
Their expressions shifted as they murmured, “Could it be that a peerless prodigy of the Alchemy Dao has appeared among them, and the other Alchemy Masters sensed it?”
“It’s highly likely.
We aren’t Alchemy Masters, so we can’t sense the Fire of Heaven and Earth.
But they’re different.
They can sense the extraordinary traits of their peers.”
More and more Cultivators began to catch on.
The sensitivity of Alchemy Masters to the Fire of Heaven and Earth was well known.
All the competing Pill Masters had been sensing the flames just moments ago.
Such a sudden, drastic reaction meant they had undoubtedly discovered the birth of a terrifyingly powerful rival in their midst.
It wasn’t just the endless crowds of Cultivators who paled in shock.
The very moment the Fire of Heaven and Earth pulsed across a radius of dozens of miles, atop the hundred-foot-tall high platform, Gai He, Gu Qingyan, and the others were already staring in sheer astonishment.
“What terrifying perception…
To actually sense the Fire of Heaven and Earth across dozens of miles?”
“Young Master, could it be him?”
Suddenly, the five Elders of the Divine Pill Pavilion and Wu Jing couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward a specific figure in the crowd.
Gu Qingyan’s beautiful eyes gleamed with brilliant light.
“It can only be him,” she said softly.
Before the Alchemy Stele, Bai Wufeng and the Workshop Master of Miaodan Square were also among the first to sense the fluctuation in the Fire of Heaven and Earth.
They immediately fixed their stares on the Battle Platform.
However, while Bai Wufeng’s gaze landed directly on Jiang Hao, the Workshop Master’s eyes scanned frantically across the thousands of young Pill Masters.
As Bai Wufeng and the others looked at him, Jiang Hao noticed their attention.
Alert, he instantly retracted his perception range.
Blending in with the crowd, he stood up along with the others, keeping a perfectly stoic facade.
“Can none of these people sense the Fire of Heaven and Earth across a few dozen miles?” he thought, slightly surprised by this unexpected development.
After all, this was his first time acting as an Alchemy Master.
He had initially assumed everyone’s sensing range for the Fire of Heaven and Earth was roughly the same.
Now, it seemed that was far from the truth.
With Jiang Hao rising to his feet, the other young Pill Masters lost their chance to pinpoint the target.
Yet, every single one of their hearts hammered like thunder.
“There’s an existence with monstrous perception among us.
Who could it be?”
“This person will be our greatest rival.
However, they retracted their perception range, clearly not wanting to be discovered.”
Many Pill Masters muttered to themselves, the horror in their eyes remaining undiminished.
A moment later, however, some Pill Masters began to console themselves.
“Sensing the Fire of Heaven and Earth over a wide area doesn’t necessarily equate to strong talent in the Alchemy Dao.
This person is probably just trying to disrupt our mental state.
Their actual talent might not be that terrifying.
Don’t fall for it, everyone!”
“Exactly.
For an Alchemy Master, sensing the Fire of Heaven and Earth is merely a fundamental prerequisite.
What truly determines one’s mastery in the Alchemy Dao is their talent in Alchemy.”
“You’re right, friend.
So what if this person can sense a vast expanse of the Fire of Heaven and Earth?
Control over Alchemy Technique, comprehension of Pill Patterns—these are the true hallmarks that determine an Alchemy Master’s success.
We absolutely cannot let them disturb our focus.”
“Friend, I don’t care who you are.
Thinking you can use this kind of cheap trick to defeat us is a foolish delusion!
Even if your perception is unparalleled, it’s useless if your talent is mediocre.”
Many young Pill Masters voiced their agreement.
Mistaking this for a rival’s tactical interference, they forcibly steadied their nerves and sat cross-legged once more.
Yet, despite their confident words, their hearts remained fraught with shock.
A Pill Master capable of sensing such a vast range of the Fire of Heaven and Earth certainly wouldn’t have poor talent in the Alchemy Dao.
Feeling a mountain of pressure, many of these young Pill Masters abandoned any thought of holding back, mentally preparing to go all out.
So many Pill Masters had traveled across countless mountains and rivers to be here.
Their goal wasn’t merely to gain the favor of the Divine Pill Pavilion and Miaodan Square across various Earth Realms, but more importantly, to claim that Alchemy Mark.
Obtaining the Alchemy Mark from the Royal Clan Alchemy Stele meant being recognized as the absolute number one figure of the Alchemy Dao in the Eastern Domain.
The sheer prestige of such a title went without saying.
Among the crowd of Pill Masters, Wang Jiang was equally pale with shock, though he soon slowly sat back down.
“To think there truly is always someone better…
I can’t believe a being with such monstrous perception exists in this year’s grand competition,” he thought.
“Fortunately, this has nothing to do with me.
As long as this person isn’t from the Xingyue City Earth Realm, they aren’t a true rival to me.”
Wang Jiang was relatively self-aware.
His goal was simply to join the Divine Pill Pavilion of Xingyue City, not to chase after that elusive Alchemy Mark.
Therefore, no matter how terrifying the Pill Masters from other regions were, it didn’t concern him.
They wouldn’t be competing for his coveted spot.
With these thoughts in mind, Wang Jiang didn’t forget to cast a disdainful glance at Jiang Hao before beginning his Alchemy, a cold sneer curving his lips.
As far as Wang Jiang was concerned, there was absolutely no way that big shot with terrifying perception was this piece of trash before him.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hao slowly sat cross-legged and exhaled a long breath of stale air.
“Thank goodness I pulled back in time,” he thought.
“If anyone figured it out, they would inevitably try to sabotage me during the Alchemy process.”
Once an Alchemy Master entered the state of Alchemy, being interrupted was the greatest taboo.
Jiang Hao secretly rejoiced that his identity remained hidden.
Had he been exposed, someone might have interfered while he worked.
Then, let alone obtaining the Alchemy Mark, even winning the championship would be a problem.
As time passed, all the Pill Masters finally calmed their minds and entered the state of Alchemy.
In an instant, the sound of igniting flames—*WHOOSH WHOOSH*—echoed continuously across the Battle Platform.
Countless streaks of the Fire of Heaven and Earth materialized out of thin air, causing the temperature of the entire venue to skyrocket to a terrifying degree.
With over a thousand streams of the Fire of Heaven and Earth appearing simultaneously, the heat both on and off the platform became unbearable.
Even the Cultivators in the spectator stands had to release their Spiritual Power to resist the scorching waves.
Thousands of Pill Masters performed Alchemy at the same time, continuously tossing in Spirit Medicine.
A dazzling array of Pill Furnaces glowed red-hot, treating the endless crowd of Cultivators to an eye-opening spectacle.
Time ticked by, minute by minute, second by second.
All the onlookers held their breath, waiting quietly for the results.
One hour passed, then two.
When the third hour arrived, the first Spirit Pill was finally born.
“Open!”
A Pill Master let out a light shout.
A crystal-clear pill slowly levitated out of his Pill Furnace, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance.
“A Tier-One, Grade-Four pill—the Soul Gathering Pill!”
Many Cultivators instantly recognized the pill’s origins and marveled in surprise.
Following that came the second, the third…
and then countless more.
As pill after pill was successfully solidified, the hearts of the audience leapt into their throats.
However, looking at the array of pills, Bai Wufeng and the others subtly shook their heads.
Evidently, they hadn’t seen a pill astonishing enough to impress them.
Until a certain moment.
“Open!”
A furious roar echoed throughout the entire venue.
*ROAR!*
The instant the pill was born, a deafening bellow followed.
On the Battle Platform, the lifelike phantoms of three black bears skyrocketed into the air.
The next moment, the person performing Alchemy shouted, “Lock!” Striking out countless Pill Patterns, he locked the black bear phantoms back into the Spirit Pill.
“A Tier-One, Grade-Five Meridian Opening Pill…
the Black Bear Pill!
And it’s of top-tier quality!”
Many people instantly drew a sharp breath.
This was the first Tier-One, Grade-Five Spirit Pill in the entire venue, and it possessed top-tier quality to boot.
On the platform, Wang Jiang was dripping with sweat, his expression extremely weak.
Yet, staring at the perfectly solidified Black Bear Pill, a satisfied smile graced his face.
Subconsciously, he glanced over at Jiang Hao—who was still tossing in Spirit Medicine—and flashed a smug, triumphant look.